Gasoline-dispensing system



June 21 1927.

O. T. GRAHAM GASOLINE DISPENSI ING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 18 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1' 1927. June 21 o. T. GRAHAM GASOLINE DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 18, 1924 \llllllll llllll llllllllllllllllllllll June 21 1927.

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gnoawtoc 0' Graham attozuea f Pptnted June 21, 1927.

NITED STATES PATENT QFFICE;

OTA. '1. GRAHAM, OI RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

GASOLINE-DISPENSING SYSTEM.

Application filed November 18, 1924. Serial No. 750,699.

The invention relates I to an improved line may be pumped from that portion of gasoline dispensing system particularly dethe main in the area of the fire, through signed for installation in cities and towns the feeder.

and seeks, among other objects, to provide 5 a system wherein gasoline may be delivered from a reservoir located without the city limits to a number of filling stations distributed at convenient locations within the area of the city. I V

The invention seeks, as a further object, to provide a system wherein the appreciable evaporation incident to the haulage, tran,sfer, and storage of gasoline, as commonly Another object of the invention is to provide a system wherein upon the occurrence of a leak in the su ply main, or should the main break, or if, v or any other reason, the velocity of flow of the gasoline in the main should be accelerated, means will be provided for automatically stopping the flow.

A further object of the invention in this connection, is to provide means in conjunction with the supply main for automatically practiced in cities or the like, will be cuttin oil the flow of gasoline therein in avoided.

The invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide a system which will eliminate the necessity for hauling gasoline from a main tank or station through the streets of a city and distributing the gasoline from the tank wagon to different filling stations, as is now commonly practiced, whereby to avoid not only the danger of fire hazard incident to the haulage of gasoline but, also, the incidental waste of gasoline.

Another object of the invention is to proboth irections.

vide a system which will eliminate the possithe valves.

station as well as eliminate the necessity hereinafter.

for each filling station to buy a reserve supply of gasoline, as is now commonly practiced, so as to thereby avoid the consequent risk to the operator of the filling station of a drop in the price of gasoline.

Another equally important object'ofthe invention is to provide a system which will be entirely safe, wherein, so far as possible, or town.

the hazards of fire or. explosion will be elimihated, and wherein the gasoline in the system will be maintained at a relatively conand feeder.

stant temperature, thus avoiding the hazards incident to thermal fluctuations.

The inventiontseeks, as a further object, to provide a system, embodying a supply main as well as a feeder in conjunction with the main so that should the main leak or Figu shown in Figure 3.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an appropriate valve for controlling fiow from the feeder to the supply main and vice versa, and wherein said valve may be remotely controlled.

And'the invention seeks, as a s object, to provide a signal system in conjunction with certain of the valves for visually indicating whether or not certain of the valves are closed as well as visually indicating the position of certain other of Other and incidental objects will appear In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of my improved dispensing system.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic View illus- I trating in dotted lines the manner in which the supply main and feeder of the system will be installed beneath the streets of a city Figure 3 is a detail plan view showing a typical section or block of the supply main Figure 4 is an elevation of the structure Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken through the pump house and one of the reservoir chambers at the pump house.

re 6 is a sectional view showing a break, gasoline may be su plied to the main typical check valve for cutting off back flow at a the o1nt beyond the brea therein, through in the supply main. eder, while, in case of a fire, the gaso- Figure is a sectional view showing a till further 70 ty icaltwo-way check valve employed, this va ve automatically controlling the velocity.

of flow in the supply main.

Figure 8 is a p anview showing aty 1 cal three-way valve employed for contro ling flow from the feeder to the supply main and vice versa.

Figure 9 is a sectional view through the valve of Figure 8. v

Figure 10 is a sectional view showing the expansion unit employed.

Figure 11 is a sectional view of the pressure operated return valve. 4

In accordance with. the present invention, I employ, as diagrammatically shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, a pump house 10 in which is mounted a plurality of pumps 11 and associated with the pump house is a plurality of reservoirs or tanks 12 connected with each other and with the pumps by manifolds 13 in which are interposed suitable shut-off valves 14; Leading from the pumps is a supply main 15 in which areinterposed suitable shut-01f valves 16 and 16' and connecting said main with the reservoirs 12 is a return pipe 17 in which is interposed-a pressureoperated valve 18. As

shown in detail in Figure 11, this valve is provided with a bonnet 19 having an upstanding yoke 20 mounting an adjusting screw 21 while the valve proper 22 is provided with a stem 23 whichjextends through the bonnet and is slidably accommodated by said screw. The valve stem carries a in 24 and interposed between the adjusting screw and said pin is a spring 25 normally holding the valve closed. Thus, under ordinary conditions, asoline delivered from the pumps will be orced through the supply main 15 but should the flow in the supply main be cut oil, ,the increased pressure of the fluid will serve to open the valve 22, when the gasoline will be returned to the reservoirs'12. The umps will accordingly be automatically relleved' and, of course, the.

screw 21may-be adjusted for regulating the tension of the spring 25 and accordingly varying. the pressure at which the valve willopen. Connected with the return pipe 17 at opposite sides of the valve 18 is a bypass valve 25' Paralleling the supply main is a feeder 26 connected with said main at a point be-- tween the valves 16 and 16 by a pipe 27 in' which is inteposed a shut-01f valve 28, and interposed in the feeder at opposite sides of the pipe 27 are valves 29 and 29'. Leadin from the latter valve is a pipe 30 connecting thefeeder with the intake of the pumps 11. Thus, by,closing the valves 16 and 29' and opening the valves 16', 28 and29, the pumps mafv be operated to force gasolinethrough the eeder While, by openmg the valve 16, gasolinemay'be pumped through the feeder as-well. as through the supply main. The pipe 30 is provided in order that by opening the valves 29.'and 29' and closing the valves 16, gasoline may be pum from the feeder back into the reservoirs'through the pipe 17, in which instance, the valve 25 will be opened. Sim-,

supply mainat suitable points throughout the system are cross pipes 31. .1 I a In installin' the system, the pump house 10 is prefera ly located outside the city limits of -.at some other rembte point and the supply main 15 and its feeder 26 are laid belowground. to extend into the city. As suggested in Figure 2, thesupplymain and feeder are laid beneath one of the main streets of the city, for instance, and laid beneath intersectingstreets or side streets of the city are, as suggested in Figure 1, a plurality of branchpipes-32 leadin from the supply main to suitably located lspensmg devices 33 at the filling stations of the system. Laid below ground along with the supply main is an electrical conduit 34 which extends to thepump house 10 and, as shall presently be explained, carries a plurality of circuit wires leading from a panel 35 in the pump house to certain of the valves of the system whereby some ,of,the valves may be controlled at the pump h ouse while certain signals, as will. also be explained, will be energized for indic ting the direction of flow in connection with other of the valves. v i

.The pump house 10 is preferably of cement or other refractory material and, as shown in Figure 5, is provided with a floor 36 beneath which are wells 37 of tile or the like, and mounted in said wells are the pumps 11. Mounted within the pump house above the floor are the pump motors 38, the shafts 39 of which extend through suitablestufiing boxes, not shown, in the floor, to the pumps. The motors are thus completely isolated from the pumps and the lines of pipe associated therewith, and preferably, the pumps are,as illustrated, located below the ground level. v The reservoirs are, as also shown in 1 Figure 5, located below the ground level and each of said reservoirs is mounted within an individual or separatechamber 40 of con,- crete or like refractory material. The pipes 2gater connecting the reservoirs with each other exshown, the several chambers are covered with earth which overlies the covers 42. In thus mounting the reservoirs in separate chambers, the fire hazard is, of course, reduced to a minimum, while in locating the chambers as well as the umps all below ground, the temperature of the. gasoline will be maintained relatively constant. Enclosing the area occupied by the chambers 40 is a wall 43 which is also referably of concrete and connected with t e several reservoirs is a filler pipe 44 terminatin at its upper end in an appropriate ound x 45. A track, as conventionally i lustrated at 46, extends adjacent the ground box so that tank cars, as conventionally illustrated at 47, may be brought close to the box and emptied into said reservoirs.

In Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, I have illustrated a typical section or block of the supply main and feeder lines. Interposed in the main 15 at suitable points are couplings, a typical one of which is indicated at 48, and interposed in said supply main at suitable distances from the couplings are three-wa valves, a typical one of which is indicate at 49. Since the block illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 is typical, a description of this block will sufiice for the entire system. As will be observed, the coupling 48 is provided with a pedestal 5O fixed to a concrete or other base 51 and similarly, the valve 49 is provided with a pedestal 52 fixed to a concrete or other base 53. The coupling and valve will, therefore, form anchors in the supply main. Interposed in said main, preferably at a point substantially midway between the coupling 48 and valve 49, is an expansion unit 54 which is provided with a pedestal 55. fixed to a concrete or other base 56. The expansion unit is shown in detail in Figure 10 of the drawings. This unit includes a pair of sleeves 57 which are connected at their outer ends to the main 15 while the inner ends of said sleeves are slidable in a head 58 on the pedestal 55, and formed on the ends of the head are glands 59 accommodating followers 60 which may be adjusted by means of tie rods 61 for tightening the gland packings about the sleeves. Thus, as will be seen, the sleeves 57 of the expansion unit will shift to accommodate expansion and contraction of the supply main between the coupling 48 and valve 49.

Interposed in the feeder 26 is a coupling 62 which is like the coupling 48 and is anchored to the pedestal 51. Anchored to the pedestal 53 is a T 63 which is interposed in the feeder opposite the valve 49 and is connected with the valve by one-of the cross pipes 31. Thus, the coupling 62and T 63 serve to anchor the feeder, and interposed in the feeder is an expansion unit 64 which is like the expansion unit 54 and is anchored to the base 56. The unit 64 will, therefore,

accommodate expansion and contraction of the feeder between the coupling 62 and T 63.

The valve 49 is shown in detail in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings. J ournaled in the valve casing is a valve body 65 to the stem of which is fixed a pinion 66 and appropriately mounted adjacent thd valve as, for instance, on the valve casing, is an approved electric motor 67, the armature shaft of wh ch carries a worm 68 meshing with said pinion. Thus, the motor may be operated for turnlng the valve body in either one direction or the other and, as will be seen, when the valve body is disposed in the position shown in Figure 9, flow from the feeder 26 to the main 15 through the valve will be cut off. By turning the valve body to the rlght, as seen in Figure 9, to close the right hand port of the valve casing, gasoline may be forced from the feeder to the portion of the main beyond the valve or may be pumped from the portion of the main beyond the valve back through the feeder to the pump house. Similarly, body to the left to close the left hand port of the valve casing, gasoline may be forced from the feeder into the main in advance of the valve or may be pumped from. the portion of the main in advance of the valve back through the feeder to the pump house. Appropriately mounted upon the valve casmg 1s an insulating strip 69 mounting contacts 70, 71 and 72, and fixed to the stem of the valve body is a contact arm 73 to cooperate with said contacts selectively. The purpose of the contacts and contact arm will be later explained.

Interposed in the main 15 at suitable intervals are check valves 74, a typical one of which is shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. As illustrated, the valve includes a casing whlch is provided internally with an inclined seat 75, and hinged at a point above the seat s a gate 76 apert-ured centrally and carrymg a smaller hinged gate 77. When the pumps 11 are in operation, both gates will be held open by the flow of gasoline through the main but will normally close the main when the pumps are at rest. In conjunction with the check valves 74, I also employ at suitably spaced points in the main 15, twoway pressure operated check valves 78, a typical one of which'i's shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. As will be observed, the valve casing is provided at each end thereof with a seat 79 and journaled through the valvecasing above said seats are shafts 80 carrying gates 81 and 82 to cooperate with said seats respectively. Fixed to the outer ends of the shafts 80 are upstandin arms 83 'adjustably connected by a tie rod 84 coupling the gates to swing in unison and extending between one of said arms and the valve casing is a spring 85 normally holdby turning the valve '74 will function to ing both gates open. Mounted upon the ends of the valve casing but suitably insulated therefrom, are upstanding contacts 86 and 87 and mounted upon the arms 83 to cooperate with said contact-s are insulated contacts 88 and 89. The pur ose of these contacts will be later explaine In connection with the valves 74 and 78, attention is now directed to the fact that should a leak occur in the main 15 or should it be found desirable for any other reason to drain a portion of the main, as, for instance, in the case of a city fire adjacent the main, the valves 49 at said portion of the main may, in the manner previously explained, be .set so that the gasoline in said ortion of the main may be pumped there- ?rom through the feeder 26, when the valve prevent back flow of gasoline into the portlon of the main belng emptied. Furthermore, gasoline may be supplied to the main beyond the emptied portion thereof, when the valve 74 Will prevent back flow of gasoline into the empty portion of the main. The valves 78 are provided as a safeguard against leakage as well as to shut off the main in the event the main should burst.

Referring particularly to the detail of Figure 7, it is to be noted that the springs '85 will normally hold the gates 81 and 82 open against the normal pressure or velocity of flow of the gasoline in the main. However, should the main break at a point beyond the valve or should a leak occur 1n the main to cause acceleration of the pumps and a corresponding increase in the velocity of flow of gasoline through the valve, the

gate 81 will be closed by the fluid and the main thus shut off at the valve. Similarly, should a break occur in the main at a point in advance of the valve, the gate 82 will be closed to prevent back flow of gasoline through the main to the break. It will accordingly be seen that the system is thus rendered entirely safe since, upon the occurrence of a leak 1n the supply main, theportion of the main in whlch the leak occurs will be automaticaly shut off from the remainder of the main and a like result would follow should the main burst. Furthermore, any selected portion of the main may be drained while gasoline may be supplied to the main beyond the drained portion thereof so that only the drained portion of the main will be rendered inoperative.

Leading from the control panel 35 in the pump house 10 through the conduit 34 to the motors 67 of the valves 49 are circuit wires 120. It has been deemed unnecessary to show a wiring diagram in connection with the motors since any approved circuit connections may be employed. However, to meet the requirements of the present system, suitable switches will be provided, preferably at the control panel 35, whereby the motors may be separately ener 'zed so that any one of the valves 49 may independentl operated for turning the valve body 65 of t e selected valve in either one direction or the other. In connection with each of the valves 49, I further provide, as suggested in Figure 1,- a series of three'signal lamps electrically connected with the contacts 70, 71 and 72 by circuit wires 121 which also extend through the conduit 34. Considering the valve shown in Figures 8 and 9 as typical, it will be seen that when the valve body 65 is turned to close the right hand port of the valve casing, the contact arm 73 will engage the contact 70. Any approved circuit connections may be employed but to meet the requirements of the present system, one of the signal lam s of the series of three lamps associated wit the -valve will be energized for indicating the position of the valve. Similarly, when the valve is turned to close the cross port of the valve casing, the arm 73 will engage the contact 71 for energizin another of said series of signal lamps, while when the valve is turned. to close the left hand port of the valve casing, the arm 73 will engage the contact 72 for energizing the remaining lamp of said series. Preferabl the lamps will be of different colors so t at by noting the color of the lamp energized, the position of the valve may be readily determined. It has been deemed unnecessary to show a diagram of the circuit connections of the si als.

In connection with each of the valves 78, I employ circuit wires 122 which are also accommodated in the conduit 34 and lead to the panel 35 in the pump house. Any approved circuit connections for the valves may be provided and I have, therefore, deemed it unnecessary to show a diagram of said connections. However, in accordance with the present invention, signal lamps of different colors are provided so that when the gate 81 is closed and the contact 88 is moved to engage the contact 86, one of said lamps will be energized while when the gate 82 is closed and the contact 89 is moved to engage the contact 87, the other of said lamps will be energized. The lamps are of different colors so that by noting the color of the lamp energized it may be readily determined which valve gate has been closed.

It is recognized that in the present disclosure, I have set forth the system as particularly designed for dispensing gasoline and it is accordingly desired to note that the system may be equally well employed for dispensing other liqui s.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: 1. A chain station dispensing system for cities or the like including a reservoir, 9. supply main extending from the reservoir into. the city, branches leading from the main, dispensing devices connected with the respective branches and operable to dispense liquid direct to a consumer, means in the main for closing the same at a break, and means for maintaining the sup ly in the main and the branches at both sldes of the break. a

2. A chain station dispensing system for cities or the like, inclu ing a reservo1r,'a supply main extending from the reservoir into the city, branches leading from the main, a plurality of dispensing devices m different sections of the city connected with respective branches and Operable to dispense liquid direct to the consumer, signaling means for indicating a break in the main, means for closing the main at the break, and

means for maintaining the sup ly' in the main and the branches at both sides of the break.

3. A chain station dispensing system for cities or the like, including a reservoir, a supply main extendin from the reservoir into the city, a plurality of dispensing devices in different sections of the city-connected with said main and operable for dis pensing liquid direct to the consumer, a valve in the main and adapted to be closed by an accelerated flow of liquid therethrough, signaling means associated with the valve for indicating that'said valve is closed, and means'whereby to maintain the supply at the dispensing devices at both sides of the valve.

4.. A chain station dis ensing system for cities or the like, inclu ing a reservoir, a suppl main extending from the reservoir into t e'city, a pump operable for pumping liquid from the reservoir through the supply'main under pressure, the reservoir, pum and supply main bein located under groun whereby the liquid wlll be maintained at a relatively constant temperature, a motor for the pump, a refractory partition between the motor and the pump, and a plurality of dispensing devices in difl'erent sections of the city connected with said main and operable for measurin and dispensing selected quantities of liqui direct to the consumer.

5. A chain station dispensing system for I cities or the like, including a reservoir, a separate refractory chamber having the reservoir, a pump house associated with the reservoir, a supply main extending from the pump house into the city, a pump in the pump house operable for pumping liquid from the reservoir throu h said main under pressure, a separate re ractory chamber for the pump, and a plurality of dispensing devices in different sections of the city connected with said main and operable for dispensing liquid direct to the consumer.

6. A chain station dis ensin system for cities or the like, inclu ing reservoir, a

suppl main extending irom the reservoir into t e cit' a plurality of dispensing devices in di erent sections of. the cit connected with said' main .and operab e for measuring and" dispensing selected quantities of liquid direct to the consumer, and a feeder connectedwith the reservoir as well as... with the main, for conducting an auxiliary supply of liquidto the main.

7 Ac ain station dis nsing system for cities or the like, inclu ing a reservoir, a supply main extendin from the, reservoir into the cit a plurality of dispensing devices in di erent sections of the city connected with said main and operable for dispensing liquid direct to the consumer, a feeder connected with the reservoir as well as with the mainfor'conductingan auxiliarysupply of ii uid to the main, and valves interposed in t e main and controlling the flow of liquid from the feeder to themain.

8. A chain station dispensing system for cities orthe like, including a reservoir, a supply main extending from the reservoir into. the cit ,a plurality of dispensing devices in di erent sections of the city connected with said main and operable for dispensing liquid direct to the consumer, a feeder connected with the reservoir as well as with the main for conducting an auxiliary supplyof liquid to the main, valves interposed in the main and controlling the flow of liquid from the feeder to the main, and a remote control for said valves.

9. A chain station dispensing system for cities orthe like, including a reservoir, a supply main extending from the reservoir into the cit a plurality of dispensing devices in di erent sections of the city connected with said main and operable for dispensing liquid direct to the consumer, a feeder connected with therexrvoir as well as with themain for conducting an auxiliary supply of liquid to the main, valves-interposed in the main and controlling the flow of liquid from the feeder to the main, and signaling means for indicating the position of said valves.

10. A chain station dispensing system for cities 'or the like, including a reservoir, a supply main extending from the reservoir into the city, a plurality of dispensing devices in di erent sections of the city connected with said main and operable for dispensing liquid direct to the consumer, a feeder connected with the reservoir as well as with the main, a pump connected with the main as well as with the feeder for pumping liquid therethrough, and valves interposed in the main at spaced points for controlling the flow of liquid in the main as well as from the feeder to the main and vice versa, whereby the pump may be 0 erated for pumping iquid from the main 't rough the eeder back into the reservoir.

feeder connected with the reservoir as well as with the main, a pump connected with the main as well as with the feeder for pumping liquid therethrough, valves interposed in the main at spaced points for controlling the flow of liquid in the main as well as from the feeder to the main and vice versa, whereby the pump may be erated for pumping liquid from the main t rough the feeder back into the reservoir, and check valves interposed in the main at spaced points for cutting off back flow in the main.

12. A chain station dispensing system for 'i-ities or the like, including a reservoir, a supply main extending from the reservoir into the city, a plurality of dispensing devices in different sections of the city connected with said main and operable for dis pensing liquid direct to the consumer, a feeder connected with the reservoir as well as with the main, and three-way valves inters posed in the main for controlling flow of liquid from the feeder to the main and vice versa.

13. A chain station dispensingsystem for cities or the like, including a reservoir. a

supply main extending from the reservoir into the city, a plurality of dispensing devices in different sections of the city connected with said main and operable for dispensing liquid direct to the consumer, a feeder connected with the reservoir as well as with the main, three-way valves interposed in the main for controlling flow of liquid from the feeder to the main and vice versa, check valves interposed in the main at spaced points for cutting off back flow therein, and a pump connected with the main as well as with the feeder and operable for pumping liquid through the main and through the feeder as well as from the main through the feeder back into the reservoir.

14. A chain station dispensing system for cities or the like including a reservoir, a supply main extending from the reservoir into the city, a plurality of dispensing devices in different sections of the city connected with said main and operable for dispensing liquid direct to the consumer, and a feeder connected with the reservoir aswell as with the mhin for conducting an auxiliary supply of liquid-to the main.

15. A chain station, dispensing/system for cities or the like including a reservoir, a supply main extending from the reservoir into the city, a plurality of dispensing devices in different sections of the city connected with said main and o erable for dispensingliquid direct to t 1e consumer and means whereby the supply to one of said devices may be retracted without interrupting the supply to the other of said devices.

16. A chain station dispensing system for cities or the like including a reservoir, a supply main extending from the reservoir into tlu city, a plurality of dispensing devices in different sections of the city connected with said main and operable for dispensing liquid direct to the consumer, and means whereby the supply to certain of said de- Vices may be selectively retracted without interrupting the supply to the other of said devices.

17. A chainstation dispensing system for cities or the like including a reservoir, a supply main extending from the reservoir into the city, a plurality of dispensing devices in different sections of the city connected with said main and operable for dispensing liquid direct to the consumer, and means whereby the liquid in a portion of the main may be, retracted and said portion of the main emptied without interrupting the supply to certain of said devices.

18. A chain station dispensing system for cities or the like including a reservoir, a supply m'ain extending from the reservoir into the city. a feeder connected with the main, means for forcing liquid from the reservoir through the main and the feeder under pressure, and means connecting the main and the feeder with the reservoir whereby liquid may be returned to the reservoir from the main or the feeder.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

OTA T. GRAHAM. [L. 5.] 

